Monchi was named Sevilla's sporting director in 2000 as the club had just been relegated and faced a financial crisis.

Sevilla has appeared in 14 finals over the past 10 years and are playing in the Europa League final on Wednesday for the third straight season.

In his office, Monchi has a piece paper with Andrés Palop in goal; a back four of Dani Alves, Federico Fazio, Martin Cáceres and Adriano; Ivan Rakitic, Júlio Baptista, Seydou Keita and Christian Poulsen in midfield; Luís Fabiano and Carlos Bacca up front. Monchi sold that collection of players for a combined €25 million and sold them for around €170 million.

Youth products Sergio Ramos, Jesús Navas, Alberto Moreno, Luis Alberto and José Antonio Reyes sold for nearly €100 million.

“No one takes a ‘what great economic results’ banner to the stadium,” he says. Of all his signings.

Monchi explains his methodology. 

“Sixteen people cover a series of leagues. For the first five months we watch a lot of football but with no particular aim: we’re just accumulating data. Every month we produce an ideal XI for each league. Then in December we start watching players who appeared regularly in different contexts – home, away, international – to build the broadest possible profile.”

Monchi then creates a color-coded spreadsheet showing players by position, approximately 250 potential targets in all positions.

“The manager says: ‘I want a left-back who averages 11km a game, runs 800m at full speed, uses both feet.’ And from these, 10 will fit.”